Pour one out for Novel. The beloved Portland, Maine, venue is closing on April 17.
Novel Events & Marketing Manager Adam Paul emailed artists who had played there in the past or have upcoming shows on the books a couple of days ago to break the news.
“For those of you with whom I was discussing future events, unfortunately we won’t be able to pursue those, and I wish you the best of luck finding a space that fits your needs. For events that were booked up until April 17th, we will continue operating those events as normal,” Paul wrote.
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The reason for the shutdown, Paul explained, comes down to one thing: money.
“Costs have gone up and profits have come down,” he wrote. “We tried multiple avenues to keep Novel operating, but in the end the finances were no longer sustainable.”
Since opening in December 2023, Novel quickly became one of the coolest small rooms on the Portland arts scene, hosting readings, film showings, burlesque shows and live music performances in a warm and welcoming, intimate room. For acoustic acts in particular, it was a great space.
If you played Novel, or caught a show there, this one undoubtedly hits hard. It’ll be missed. If you spent any time there, you’ve probably got a story or two, and we’d love to hear it. Post it in the comments.
*****
They say that when one door closes, another one opens. That’s usually bullshit, but in this case, there might be a modicum of truth to the old cliché.
That’s because Live at Madrid’s has partnered with the University of Southern Maine’s community radio station, WMPG 90.9 FM, to present the Cut Yer Teeth showcase, starting tomorrow with a show from the Portland math rock outfit, Intricate Mouse Work.
Cut Yer Teeth is an eight-week Spring Concert Series that will feature local bands in the Lounge at Live at Madrid’s. It’s designed to offer a curated platform for up-and-coming bands to grow their audience, refine their live performance, and build a consistent presence in an intimate, fun setting, which just happens to feature a killer sound system run by Ryan, the in-house sound tech who’s got some of the best ears in the business.
Each week, a different emerging band will perform a full set at 7pm. Here’s the full lineup:
- April 6 – Intricate Mouse Work
- April 13 – 13 Scotland Road
- April 20 – Ladybrain
- April 27 – A collaboration with the Wild Cranberries Collective, featuring Future Mailmen, Hidden Driver (from Tacoma, WA), and Peach Hat
- May 4 – Two Minutes Out
- May 11 – General Farwell
- May 18 – City Planners
- May 25 – Andrew LaVogue
Local music has been an important part of the WMPG’s ethos and programming for decades, WMPG Promotions Director Annella Linton said.
“All of our DJs play local music, and we’ve got a show called Local Motives that airs every Wednesday at 7:30pm that’s specifically dedicated to presenting local bands live on the air from our studio,” Linton said. “When the folks at Live at Madrid’s came to us with this idea, we were all in. This is a fantastic series and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
The Lounge at Live at Madrid’s, which has been open for only a few weeks, is already becoming an important part of Portland’s music scene. Alongside the Cut Yer Teeth series, the space is also hosting free Happy Hour shows on Thursdays from 5–8pm, featuring some of southern Maine’s standout solo artists.
Upcoming Happy Hour Shows (Free, Thursdays 5–8pm):
- April 16 – Andrew LaVogue
- April 23 – Dan Blakeslee
- April 30 – Plague Dad
If you haven’t been to a show at Live at Madrid’s yet, now’s the time. The Thursday shows are free, the Monday series is five bucks, and the room sounds great.
See ya there.